The room instantly became like an ice cavern.

Zhong Changrong’s first thought was to call Zhu Yong back.

His suspicions now had evidence.

“So, Young Master Liang has returned from his wayward path?” he said coldly.

He had many words ready to pour out: When did it start? What have you done? Was the loss of Shipo City your doing? But he swallowed them all before they left his mouth.

“Who is that person!” He only asked the most crucial question.

Liang Qian’s expression remained unchanged, not feeling that his words were particularly frightening, nor perceiving Zhong Changrong as dangerous.

He shook his head: “It’s not that I won’t tell you, but I truly don’t know.”

Don’t know? Zhong Changrong stared at him.

“Whether the General believes it or not, I’m telling the truth,” Liang Qian said with a smile. “Moreover, I can’t be considered as returning from a wayward path. I saved you for my own sake as well.”

Zhong Changrong laughed coldly: “Perhaps interrogation and imprisonment will help you remember.”

Liang Qian nodded: “And starting the investigation with the people around me might lead to something.”

He’s voluntarily suggesting methods? Zhong Changrong studied him.

“But the other party isn’t dead. If you make a move, they’ll certainly notice and cut off any leads,” Liang Qian said, then laughed self-mockingly. “As for me, whether I’m thrown in prison for interrogation or simply killed, what difference does it make? I’m nothing. My death would cause no loss to them, and would bring you no benefit either.”

He looked at Zhong Changrong.

“If I die, you won’t survive either.”

“I can’t guarantee that the next time you face danger, someone will be soft-hearted like me.”

The room fell into icy silence again.

After a moment, Zhong Changrong said coldly: “You’re not soft-hearted. You want something.”

Liang Qian didn’t deny it, nodding: “Yes, General. What I want is to not die, to not die without value.”

Before Zhong Changrong could speak, he stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

“Eliminating me won’t lead you to the person behind this, and more hidden dangers will emerge around you. So please, General, keep me alive. I’ve honestly revealed my secrets to you. I pose no threat to you now.”

The current scene was something Zhong Changrong had never imagined. He looked at the young man kneeling before him with undisguised shock.

Liang Qian actually—

Turned out to be—

It was Liang Qian—

Although he had been wary of the Liang father and son, that was the extent of it. He had never carefully observed this young master of the Liang family, let alone explored what kind of person he was.

This young man was about the same age as Xie Yanlai. Though his appearance wasn’t as striking as Xie Yanlai’s, he was still handsome. Neither his previous forced labor nor these two years of battlefield fighting had worn away the demeanor of a noble family’s son.

It was a different demeanor from Xie Yanlai’s.

Zhong Changrong inwardly sneered. It was a kind of gentle yet decaying demeanor. No matter how brightly his face smiled, a layer of gloom shrouded him that sunlight couldn’t penetrate.

Whereas Xie Yanlai, no matter how gloomy his eyes might be, always radiated an inner light that tore through the gloom.

“Young Master Liang is truly a bold person,” he said slowly.

Liang Qian moved his lips, wanting to tell Zhong Changrong that Miss Zhao, the Empress, had once called him a brave and martial person.

He steadied himself and didn’t speak, listening to Zhong Changrong continue.

“…You did such things, yet you dare come to negotiate terms with me?”

Liang Qian shook his head: “It’s not boldness. I simply don’t want to die. Of course, if the General wants me dead, I’ll die immediately.”

At this point, he looked at Zhong Changrong.

“All you’ll get is a dead me. I won’t say another word.”

Zhong Changrong said coldly: “Is this a threat?”

Liang Qian shook his head again: “It’s a fact. That person has accomplished so many incredible things. Do you think you can trace them through me? I’m just a tool, and when a tool is no longer needed, it’s nothing.”

Zhong Changrong looked at him and scoffed: “If that person is so formidable, would they let you live after you disobeyed their orders?”

Liang Qian bowed deeply again: “That’s why I need the General’s trust. Then I can hide from them, persuade them, deceive them.”

The room froze in silence again.

It seemed like a very long time passed, yet it might have been just a breath.

Zhong Changrong said flatly: “Go.”

“Thank you, General,” Liang Qian said, without adding a single extra word. he rose and took his leave.

After Liang Qian left, the room returned to silence. The clamor outside also dispersed along with Liang Qian. Zhong Changrong lay in bed, his gaze heavy, seemingly still pondering. Then he sighed.

“General,” he murmured. “Being this great general is truly difficult.”

He instinctively wanted to raise his hand to rub his forehead, only to remember his right hand was gone, and his left hand was temporarily immobile.

He sighed again, then took a deep breath and called for Xiaoshan.

After calling several times, Xiaoshan finally poked his head through the window: “What does the General need? There are people outside waiting for orders. I’m a battalion commander with many responsibilities—”

Zhong Changrong glared at him, interrupting his chatter.

“Please ask Lord Zhu to come,” he said, adding, “and take away the Western Liang man’s head.”

Xiaoshan glanced at the table and muttered, “Why didn’t you have him take it earlier? General, you really must have injured your head.” With that, he dropped the window and ran off before Zhong Changrong could scold him.

Zhong Changrong exhaled in bed. Not only is my head uninjured, it’s become smarter.

Zhu Yong, who hadn’t gone far, quickly returned. Entering the door without even glancing at the head on the table, he asked in a low voice: “What does the General need?”

It’s indeed easier to talk with intelligent people, Zhong Changrong thought appreciatively. He knew that coming back for the head was just an excuse and a cover.

“What I mentioned earlier,” he looked at Zhu Yong, “has been confirmed.”

……

……

Despite the major incident of the commander being ambushed, the atmosphere in the military camp wasn’t downcast. The attackers had been promptly annihilated, and the troops had pressed on to the Western Liang capital, forcing the Western Liang King to board a carriage and lead his entire city’s population to migrate further west.

With just one command from General Zhong, they could campaign even further west.

Seeing Liang Qian arrive on horseback, the military camp became boisterous.

“Battalion Commander Liang!”

“Battalion Commander Liang, when will we attack the Western Liang King?”

“Cut off one of the Western Liang King’s arms!”

Hearing these shouts, Liang Qian smiled: “I just met with General Zhong. He said he would personally lead everyone to do this.”

The soldiers erupted in cheers.

Liang Qian dismounted and walked through the cheers to the wounded soldiers’ camp. Seeing him enter, the wounded soldiers also greeted him warmly.

“Battalion Commander Liang is here.”

“Your comrade is much better.”

Liang Qian had been demoted from guerrilla general to battalion commander, losing command of thirty thousand troops, but his guards still followed him. In the previous battle to aid General Zhong, many had died or been wounded.

Liang Qian thanked them and, under everyone’s watchful gaze, entered a room.

This room had only two beds, with two soldiers seemingly unconscious on them.

“I believe what I did was right,” Liang Qian said directly, looking at them.

One of the soldiers opened his eyes and smiled: “What? Is Young Master Liang looking for a reward?”

Liang Qian ignored his mockery and said, “Just as I said before that keeping my arm wouldn’t affect our deal, keeping Zhong Changrong alive doesn’t affect what we need to do. If Zhong Changrong dies, it won’t be easy for someone to inherit his position. It would only invite more contention. It’s better to let him live while I earn his trust and am used by him. This way, it becomes easier.”

The soldier’s expression was cold: “Young Master Liang, you only need to do what you’re told. How things are done is not for you to consider.”

“Young Master Liang,” the other soldier also opened his eyes and said flatly, “Go arrange for the aftermath. Don’t waste time here.”

They had intended to kill Liang Qian in that chaotic battle, but once the melee began, it wasn’t up to them anymore. Those frenzied Western Liang soldiers had ironically become a human wall protecting Liang Qian.

But it didn’t matter. There were plenty of ways to make someone die.

Liang Qian, the betrayer, you’re as good as dead.

Liang Qian said, “My death wouldn’t benefit you either. The border conflict is over. It won’t be easy to cultivate another person like me.”

The soldier laughed and said: “So Young Master Liang has gained confidence and is now threatening us?”

Liang Qian shook his head: “I’m not threatening.” He looked at the soldier. “I just want to live like a human being. Please treat me as a person.”

As that soldier was about to speak, the other stopped him and looked at Liang Qian indifferently: “Stop wasting words. Whether you can live like a human depends on your luck.”

Liang Qian wasn’t concerned about this threat and said: “You were right earlier. I am here for a reward. Please tell him to arrange for me to kill Deng Yi and Xiao Xun. Now that I have Zhong Changrong’s trust, if I can also gain the glory of executing the rebels, my position will be unmatched.”

……

……

Long, slender fingers tapped on the table.

“Bravery and martial spirit,” Xie Yangfang said, raising her head to look at Cai Bo across from her. “Aren’t virtues. They’re merely obsessions.”